Electronic Cigarettes In The News

September 7th, 2014

This has been another big week for electronic cigarettes in the news, with even more charges and counter charges being levied by proponents and opponents of the e-cig revolution. While to many, this may appear to be turning into a game of “He Said, She Said”, the stakes are simply too high, on all sides, for anyone to give ground easily.

On one side, you have big business trying to protect its market position. They have coupled with those dependent on health issue controversies for their status and income, and are being backed by people who have a genuine concern over the health implications of something new and still widely misunderstood.

On the other side, you have the growing number of people who see electronic cigarettes as a possible means of doing away with an industry that has proven itself to be detrimental to public interest, but are so socially ingrained and such a corporate leviathan that it simply cannot be done away with.

With all that being said, let’s move on to the latest electronic cigarette news.

Researchers Say E-Cigarettes Have Potential to Save Tens of Thousands of British Lives Each Year

Experts from University College London (UCL) have put forth their opinion that for every 1,000,000 people who give up traditional tobacco in favour of electronic cigarettes, 6,000 lives will be saved. If you take into account that there are approximately 9,000,000 smokers presently in the UK that comes out to 54,000 lives saved each year, if all of Britons current smokers made the switch to electronic cigarettes.

These findings stand in direct contradiction to recent health warnings and regulatory recommendations made by the WHO (World Health Organisation). The WHO put forth the opinion that second hand vapour presents a serious health risk and that e-cigarettes could be a gateway to tobacco use.

WHO Concerns Dismissed as Misleading

Professor Robert West and Dr. Jamie Brown from UCL's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health dismissed the United Nations Sanctioned report, saying that there are actually “very low” levels of toxins in e-liquid vapour.

The two felt strongly enough about the issue that they co-authored a recent editorial piece for the “British Journal of General Practice” in which they stated e-liquid vapours contain "nothing like the concentrations of carcinogens and toxins as cigarette smoke. In fact, toxin concentrations are almost all well below one twentieth that of cigarette smoke."

Their opinions were further supported by a newly released research report from Kings College London published in “Addiction Journal”.

In that report, Ann McNeill from the National Addiction Centre at King's College London and leading author of the report stated, in regard to the WHO report:

"We were surprised by the negativity of the commissioned review, and found it misleading and not an accurate reflection of available evidence.”

“E-cigarettes are new and we certainly don't yet have all the answers to their long-term health impact, but what we do know is that they are much safer than cigarettes, which kill over six million people a year worldwide."

Further support was also offered by the reports lead researcher, Prof Peter Hajek who carried out an analysis of the research used in the WHO report. He was rather scathing when he opined:

"I think any responsible regulator proposing restricting regulation has to balance reducing risks with reducing potential benefits.”

"In this case the risks are unlikely, some already proven not to exist, while the benefits are potentially enormous. It really could be a revolutionary intervention in public health if smokers switched from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes.

"So killing benefits, which are huge, for risks which are small is like asking people to stop using mobile phones and tablets, or restrict their use and further development, because of a one in 10 million chance that the battery might overheat in your device."

Perception and Reality

Just as with anything new, there are going to be people who can’t help but nay say.

The plain truth is, regardless of which side of the argument you support, there is mounting evidence that electronic cigarettes can have a major impact on our society as a whole.

Given the documented potential of saving 50,000 plus British lives per year, it is going to very difficult for the e-cig detractors to sell the idea of over regulating, in the name of what might be. The facts are that electronic cigarette vapour contains very little, if any, toxic substances. They are much safer than tobacco, and at least in the opinion of some experts, show the potential to save lives.

Only time will answer the questions about the long term effects of vaping, but in view of the reality of their potential to provide a great good, they deserve their chance rather than being condemned over perceived dangers.

Until next time, here’s wishing you a smooth draw.

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